I got lazy and didn’t do them, then paid for it.
I’m talking about my exercises, the ones I had to do after my surgery.
The booklet doesn’t say how long you have to do them for, so I thought as everything was chuntering along quite nicely, I didn’t have to do them every day.
BIG MISTAKE.
After a week, I felt as if my chest had stuck to my rib cage and my side was attached to my armpit. Apparently this is called ‘adhesion’.
So I had to be strict with myself, exaggerate my stretches and use a moisturising cream to help make my skin more supple so that I could ‘detach’ the inner me.
Ow.
I feel so self conscious, and it’s only me who sees, unless Hubby comes in all grins.
He started doing them with me for a little while because he was having stiffness in his shoulder and they helped at the time.
They only take five to ten minutes to complete 5 rotations of 11 easy exercises which I do as soon as I get up and again before I get into bed at night.
Now, several weeks later, I am back to normal, with no twinges or pulling sensation as I stretch and I intend to keep doing them.
So, if anyone has had breast surgery and you are told to do some exercises, please do.
Even if you only do a few for the first few days after your surgery, please try and stick with it, gradually building up to the full set. The alternative is quite painful trying to correct.
pensitivity101 
Oh so sorry you had to go through that. I too do exercises daily, for my knee replacements (both) and if I skip a few days, they stiffen up again. Keep it up šŖ
My own fault, trying to be a clever clogs! Never mind. All OK now and I don’t feel as if my ‘elastic’ is going to ping!
Did you have both knees done at the same time? My mum had them both done but 18 months or so apart. The second recovery was more painful but she never regretted it
I did a “staged” bilateral. Scheduled them 8 weeks apart for best recovery. I did the least damaged knee first second was a bugger but I recovered soooo well. Best thing I’ve ever done! My only regret is that I waited so long. š
So glad it worked for you.
You got that right Di. You have to keep on doing them to keep up the strength in your muscles.
Ouch! That sounds painful Di. Hope you can keep your exercises up now. I am wo p dering if there are any I can do to help myself. Hmmm!
It’s stretches more than anything else which make sense, so it’s no problem, and as i say only takes about 5 to ten minutes, so hardly time consuming.
I have back exercises and if I don’t do them I can really tell! I used to have to be stretched on the rack every 2 years but with the exercises I’m going on 4 years without getting stretched! I hope your exercises continue to keep you in tip top condition!!
Hubby used to support me as I hung fro the spiral staircase in our first house when my back was playing up You could here the cracks and pings as it sorted itself out. I felt like Twizzle!
Di, I’m not sure whether I’m feeling enlightened or terrified after reading all of these creaks, cracks and groans. However, I know I’m much better when I keep up my walking. Makes such a difference. My sister-in-law is fighting breast cancer but is having chemo before surgery so hasn’t got to this point yet. However, I will pass your advice on when the time comes. I’m supposed to do some stretches and I forget how to do them and just forget.
Best wishes,
Rowena
My best wishes to your SIL Rowena. I was lucky not to need chemo, just radiotherapy in 2016. My second strike meant a mastectomy but again no chemo nor radiotherapy this time. I have no regrets and feel great. I am also glad I didn’t go for reconstruction.